Should the Spurs take a dive tonight in L.A.?

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — To rest players or not to rest players? With the Western Conference’s No. 1 seed in his back pocket, that is the question facing Spurs coach Gregg Popovich heading into tonight’s game against the Lakers at Staples Center.

As of this morning’s shootaround at Santa Monica College, Popovich still didn’t have a definitive answer.

“We’re trying to figure that out right now, to see what might be best for us,” Popovich said after the walk-through. “We change our minds like every 10 minutes. Hopefully, by the time we get to the arena, we’ll know what the heck we’re doing.”

There are a couple good reasons for the Spurs to approach this game as if it matters. The NBA’s top overall record, and home-court trump card over every other team in the league, is still up for grabs (thought it’s worth noting, when asked at shootaround, Popovich reiterated the Bulls won’t play into his thinking). There are matters of momentum, of groove, of keeping players in playoff fighting form.

However, there are also reasons — compelling reasons — to sit guys like Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Antonio McDyess tonight, and let the JV team do all the heavy lifting.

One is a matter of psychology. Mired in a five-game losing streak, their longest since before Pau Gasol joined the team, the Lakers simply need this one more than the Spurs. They have all the motivation. Why give them the opportunity — and the psychological edge — of beating the Spurs at full strength if you don’t have to?

Popovich has always hated playing against teams that were at less than full strength. If you win, you feel like you’ve accomplished nothing. If you lose, you feel doubly bad. By resting his starters, Popovich can put the Lakers in that kind of no-win situation.

Another reason has to do with the playoff bracket. The Lakers’ recent skid has taken them from the brink of overtaking the Spurs atop the Western Conference, to the precipice of finishing fourth.

If the Lakers finish fourth, the Spurs could be looking at facing the two-time defending NBA champions in the second round. A win tonight would ensure L.A. could finish no worse than third, on the opposite side of the West bracket from the Spurs. The Spurs are in position to help the Lakers get it.

I don’t imagine such seeding games play much into Popovich’s thinking tonight. He rarely seems to care about his own team’s seed, much less anybody else’s. If he chooses to sit his starters, it will be for reasons related to rest and psychology.

Keeping the Lakers out of fourth would simply be a happy by-product of that decision.